New Beginings

I was once told, that if I have a blog....I have to actually write on it.  While this is completely true, I also have to feel inspired to write.  In the past year or so, I have felt pretty uninspired, as life had become the most routine and common as it has even been.  Jenkins Restorations was a great company for me.  A career starter to say the least.  It afforded me a lifestyle I have never had as an adult, taught me things about myself I would have never seen, and gave me a glimpse of a corporate setting.  But most of all, Jenkins showed me exactly what I did not want from life.  A salaried position where I rarely worked 40 hours, but was only paid for 40 hours (and if i worked less than 40, had money or vacation time actually removed from my paycheck), a work environment full of rules and regulations, a money driven industry, and a company that continued to preach about God but then fall short of their slogan.  When I left Jenkins, I didn't receive any phone calls, e-mails, or acknowledgement that I had even worked there.  The office administrator didn't even know it was my last day and she does payroll.  I should have just turned in my last time sheet and not actually said anything about it being my last day...to be honest I probably would have continued to receive a full paycheck.

With all of that being said, I feel truly blessed to be in the position I am right now.  The beginning of this year was full of surprises.  As I announced to Jenkins that I would be leaving, the Lord also announced to us that we were pregnant.  In hindsight it was probably the worst time to leave a consistent job for a new business, but everything happens for a reason and here we are today, Catherine's almost 6 months pregnant and the business is two weeks in, turning a profit.  While the business and baby are the biggest changes in life today, we have also had some amazing opportunities this year.  Catherine, Roy, BC and I went out to Big Sur, California and ran a marathon.  Roy was the only veteran marathoner so the experience was a first for most of us.  What a thrill to accomplish and overcome.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever done and one of my greatest accomplishments.  To have my wife finish right next to me, was a highlight I can't wait to relive again.  In that same trip, Catherine and I had an opportunity to meet some of my extended family in Chicago for a small family reunion.   Kip has never seen the great city called Chi-Town, so for her to see some of my roots and family, it helped explain a bit of who I am.  I was thrilled to finally be in my town and able to show here all of my old hangouts.  We relived some glory days moments and told tales of my slightly checkered past. From then to now has been a huge journey, one that I am very thankful for.

Today my life is SO fulfilling right now.  With news of baby, Catherine and I have made the decision to stay in our rental on Parkwood.  Because of the new business we are not eligible to buy a home until the business shows three years of profitable gain.  Which will most likely actually be five years from now due to the fact that any profit we make right now, we're either putting right back into the business or taking bonus's so that we can re coop the money that was put into the initial investment.  Regardless of the time that it takes to actually purchase a home, this home, actually feels like home.  For the past year of renting, this has been a place to rest our head.  A great space that contains our items and one we feel safe in.  But now, this is the first home the baby will call home....and that makes this space really special.  Our backyard is now my haven.  While the shed is still full of our landlords things, I now have a garden.  We are growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and a slew of herbs.  It's a great feeling knowing that I am proving for my family not only monetarily but also with food from the earth.

Becoming a Dad is such an odd feeling....and by odd, I don't mean bad or uncomfortable.  It's a feeling of appreciation.  A feeling that I have this great responsibility to not only teach but also show another human being what is right and wrong, just or unjust, loving or hateful, etc.  What an amazing sense of joy and purpose to now know that my job, above all, is to keep my wife at peace and feeling loved, and to raise my child in a loving and joyous environment.  I can't tell you how much I love my family and what great loyalty I feel towards them.

With the joy of being back in the field, swinging a hammer, watching my wife begin the care of our child, and the daily lessons that I'm being taught, life has truly given me a breath of fresh air.  I am so blessed to be where I am, here in Richmond VA with a great business partner, an unbelievable wife, a home, food growing in my backyard and a baby in oven....life is so good, now, in this moment.

Family First

A lot of people say it, but do they actually live it?  In my life, my family has gone through many trials and tribulations.  Separation, bankruptcy, legal battles, and death, the tough times have led to a healthy loyal bond.  The troubles that we have endured ultimately have allowed us to know each other in such an intimate way  because we have never had space to hide anything.  For my family to function we have to literally have it all on the table.  This style of communication, that has developed through my family, really shapes how I see myself and the role I have not only in family but in life.  While times can be tough the outcome is something that I'm truly grateful for.

Today Catherine, Abita, and I traveled to see Granny.  And again, I'm reminded of what family is really about.  Catherine is the type of person who will drop anything she has for her family.  It's probably one of the things I love most about her.  Since Granddaddy died, her Granny has been alone in this country home and has had a desire to see family more than ever....well, really anyone at that.  Last night Catherine posed the option of taking a road trip to NC and see her for the day.  And let me tell you WHAT A DAY IT WAS!!

We ate bear, helped do yard work, saw her granddaddy's grave (on the property), and visited with extended family.  And yes, really it was bear.  Her hospitality, acceptance, and appreciation were such a needed extension since in this world life can at times feel distant, rough, and lonely.  The trip really reminds me that work and the hustle bustle is all good and well, but when it really boils down and life gets tough the people that help you get through it is family.  However or whoever that may be....family is the rhythm that keeps my life consistent.  I'm so thankful for people in my life that help me catch a breath of fresh air.

Generally my posts have been pretty politically founded, but this one is different.  I've found things on the internet or heard articles on NPR that didn't quite sit right.  Stories or posts that have allowed me the space to think about what principles I want to be structuring my life around.  The nuances in life that make me feel like i have to conform.  But truly, I'm the author of my own destiny.  No one can take that breath of fresh air for me.  So today, i take my own advice and take a breath, and get involved in a project of my own.

My passion in life is woodworking and I was able to live with it in my life consistently for the past 5 years. Since moving to Richmond that part of my life has taken a back seat to everything else (money, relationships, chores, working out, etc.).  In the past week I've taken the steps of getting back into the workshop and began to create again.  It feels AMAZING!! Initializing sensations that have fallen to the way side that remind me of who I am breeds a sense of confidence I have lost since being here.  The smell of fresh cut wood, the feel of a fine sanded product, the pressure needed to sink a screw, have all been sensations that have been accustom to me that all of a sudden dropped out of my life.  Ultimately, I have been trained to be a carpenter, from apprenticeship to habitat, carpentry has been the most consistent thing in my life, ever.  From girlfriends, jobs, vehicles, friends, homes, possessions. nothing has lasted the test of time besides woodwork.

So here is my promise (to no one but myself).  Until i make enough money to allow carpentry to be my means of income, i will never again go a weekend without a project.  I have 3 more lined up and will go about progressing my passion at each chance i get.  I've again captured a sense of who I am and life's circumstances won't get another chance to strip me of that.  This breath of fresh air is truly needed.

Through out this post are pictures of the new bookshelf I'm making.  Simple yet gratifying.

Congresswoman Giffords Shot in Tucson

While in the midst of a very hard economy many people are making sacrifices.  Men and Women are swallowing their pride and taking jobs they have to, not want to.  Kids are loosing their opportunity to enjoy the only portion of their life that is seemingly stress free.  Communities across the nation are loosing not only their patrons (i.e. Detroit) but also their way of life.

Congresswoman Gifford lost her life as she knew it today.  Yes, she may recover, and again one day, hold the title of Congresswoman, but she'll always live with the memory of today.  She didn't deserve it nor did any of those other people who were injured or killed (among them a 9 year old).  But the reality of the fact is...life is getting to be very hard for Americans.  We, as a people of the past few generations, have not felt a struggle like we do today.  Instead of joining together and working things out as one, our individual insecurity is driving us to only worry about "me".  And with this individual detachment we're also feeling this lonesome feeling when it comes to the people representing us.  We fight to keep our lives afloat while the folks in congress get a three week vacation...?  As a people we are taking pay cuts, loosing our insurance, loosing our houses, loosing our community and what response do we get from our leaders?  Arguments about who's right or who's wrong.  I'm tired of it.  Congresswoman Gifford didn't deserve to be shot, but maybe this is a wake up call to stop trying to make money off of our freedom.  Don't sign a bill because you have an invested interest.  Don't sit and watch our environment decay because it's more important for you to make $ from the larger than life oil companies.  Do your job.

But the blame doesn't fully fall on those who "speak for us".  Where has our voice gone?  The constitution starts, "We the people..." so where are WE?  Now, i know that it's far more complicated then just get up and start a revolution.  But in my mind there are just fundamental qualities that all of us can agree on.  Like everyone should have an opportunity to be housed, eat, and have clean water.  "Opportunity" is the key.  The people in the government should be paid as an average American so they can feel the affects of the bills they are passing.  You and I should have the same opportunity to receive health care as they do.  We as a people should all be able to sit back and retire when we turn 60.  These are things I believe everyone deserves and unfortunately we may not get them unless we speak up.  Take an opportunity to have a breath of fresh air and realize what some fundamental rights each of us has.

These are our potential leaders?

You have got to be kidding me.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not the most intellectual or law savoy person on this planet but I would hope our potential leaders are.  Our Country, for the majority of it's existence, has been a self-made, dominate force with-in this world.  We've been able to break away from a world power, assert our independence, and grow into a nation of competent people.  So, what's happening now?  Where has our great intuition gone?  Do we as a people not have any accountability anymore or hold others to standards? There are times that I look at my fellow citizen's and ask myself why.  Their actions and comments are cold, selfish, and of a short term thought process. The country that we live in has lost it's independent, free spirited, adventurous attitude, and traded it in for a money hungry, self preserving, attention starved, debacle.  People work more than they sleep.  Doesn't that bother anyone?  Our lives are rushed.  We're basically rushed to death.  Everything around us is made to make life more efficient.  While life gets easier it's taking away from out simplicity. It makes traditional life experiences nonexistant.  Cooking food, creating a home, experiencing relationships, traveling, have all become streamline.  All of these are not awful inventions but it has taken away from time spent enjoying the company of those directly around you.  When was the last time you took time to really get to know your neighbors or spoke to someone face to face about an issue instead of through text or the phone?  Even this blog has taken an old tradition of communication and made it less personal.  Do we even make time to really know ourselves anymore?  With these changes in our life, we can see the changes reflected in our Government. 

We are the law.  Everyone has heard the phrase "We the people..." but no one seems to live it.  How come we don't fight anymore for what's right?  Are people not outraged in this country with the turn of events and ideals?  As this election season is right around the corner make an effort to be heard.  Get involved with your community and help shape it in the way that you want.  Each person has their place in this country and it's important to cultivate that community and seek it out.  I don't expect everyone to think the way I do, but i do expect everyone to have some common decency when it comes to relating to one another.  We're not a country anymore....we're two parties.  Take a breath of fresh air and remind yourself that we are one.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwSljJAzqg